Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-24
As TO THE RATE OF WAGES.

Much comment has been created in thin
camp by the remarks made to the Helena
correspondent Of The MINER by Henry M.
Wolcott to the effect that the trouble here
is not 10 much on account OF the high price
Of salt as the high price paid for labor.
Now, while we believe that Mr.. Wolcott is
conscientious in his convictions, We can
but hold to the theory that his premises
sre erroneous and his conclusions necessa-
rily at fault. The fact is. that Butte is a
vary expensive place in which to live, much
more 50 than Denver. where Mr.. Wolcott
hives. We feel that We are stating the case
in the limit OF the facts when We say thatit
costs . family at the least 80 per cent. less
in Denver than it does in Butte. We know
the cost Of living lie nearly an hundred per
cont. lees in St. Paul than it 10 in Butte.
Yet in that city OF St. Paul man can secure
$500 per day for street labor, and not be
forced to hazard bis lie in the lower levels
of q mine, nor deny himself tho sunshine
which an all-wise Providence has provided
for him.
Now, when the Union Pacific manage
ment comes to advance this high-wages ar
sument, We trust that they will consider all
OF the correlative facts in the case. The
people who work in these mines buy their
meats in Kansas City, because the butch
srs here cannot afford to buy a whole band
marketed from a given herd. and they also
buy their fruits in California, because they
cannot be grown in this Territory therefore
the Union Pacific secures the benefit of the
long haul on their luxuries. Assume now
that wages should be reduced here, The
mines would all most surely shut down.
Then the Union Pacific would not only lose
the salt shipment, but these meats and
fruits as well. Then the Utah Northern, |
which has heretofore borne the burden of |
the interest account OF the Union Pacific |
system, would cease to be that important |
factor that it has been in the past to the
main line.
On this subject We desire to submit a
statement made by W. A. Clark at the
meeting OF the Butte Board OF Trade on
Saturday night as reported in tho Mining
Journal OF yesterday. which, az. a mining
authority, cordially Endorses the state
nent:
This camp depends on q high rate OF
wages for its existence. It requires and de.
hands high wages, because living is high,
freight 10 high, and it would be q crime to
attempt to reduce wages. 1t would be a sin
to attempt to do anything of the kind.
The men who labor in our mines are Justly
entitled to all they get, and We cannot, we
I'LL not 0kfonnt IN rol,,no kho-ouoo ~ ~,,r
workingmen."
Mr.. Clark has himself worked for wages
above and under ground. and he can but
be in sympathy with that class. And he is
. man who has the courage ofhis convictions
and dares to avow his sentiments. He
knows full we'll the cost OF living in this
great camp. and he is not afraid to meet
Issue that is now pending between the
great industries Of Butte and the Union
Pacific Railway. And he is too
shrewd to admit any specious
by the company or to argue the
question from any false premises. He is
determined that the issue shall be purely
simply whether the Union Pacific shall
the concession on salt shipments
or to have the best source OF
the revenue cut off by a shutdown OF the
mills OF the camp.
l.
The foregoing are the pending issues and
they cannot be evaded by the sophistries
Of q shrewd railway management. And
these issues must be met between now and
October LIST or an argument will be ad-
vaneed which will carry weight with it.
We are sorry that Vice President and G
General Manager Potter cannot come here q
1t once and take action. A shutdown of 2
he Alice is q serious thing for the con. !
'emplation Of this camp not only, but for I
he Union Pacific railway management as t